Senior Specialist - Purchasing Manager, EMEA

In short

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Senior Specialist - Purchasing Manager, EMEA to play a crucial role in supporting On's Real Estate & Development team. Based in our headquarters in Zurich, you will be instrumental in ensuring the timely and cost-effective delivery of high-quality Owner-Furnished Items (OFI) for our retail and development projects, reflecting On's commitment to excellence and brand integrity.

As a Purchasing Manager, you will be a proactive and organized individual, responsible for the end-to-end purchasing process of Owner Furnished Items (OFI), from initial planning and sourcing to vendor management and final delivery. You will ensure that all OFI orders meet design specifications, budget requirements, and project timelines, contributing to the successful execution of our global real estate initiatives.

Your Mission

• Deliver OFI Excellence: Management of all Owner-Furnished Items (OFI) for On's Regional Real Estate projects, ensuring efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and adherence to the highest standards of quality and brand alignment. This includes managing all scope requirements and supplier selection to be sure business needs are met, forecasting volumes, negotiation of contracts, purchase requisitions and overseeing logistics, including shipping, receiving, and cost reconciliation.

• Drive Operational Efficiency: Promote process improvement, tool adoption, and strategic problem-solving, and maintain meticulous attention to detail, ensuring the smooth and successful execution of On's real estate projects. This includes effective budget management and accurate cost forecasting to optimize resource allocation.

• Champion Brand Integrity: Act as a guardian of the On brand, meticulously sourcing OFI that reflect our commitment to quality, innovation, and sustainability, and seamlessly integrate with the design and function of each space.

• Craft Inspiring Environments: Contribute to the creation of inspiring spaces that connect with the On community, reflecting our brand identity and enhancing the customer and employee experience through carefully curated OFI.

• Ensure Quality and Compliance: Work with external partners to meet quality and project goals, and collaborate with legal and procurement to establish agreements. Occasional travel for onboarding and quality control checks, guaranteeing that all OFI meet On's stringent standards.

Your story

• Educational Foundation: You possess a Bachelor's degree in Design/Architecture or equivalent, demonstrating a strong understanding of furniture & fixture specifications and design requirements, as well as supply chain and project management. Studies in Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field are also considered, providing a solid foundation for business principles and operational processes.

• Proven Procurement Prowess: You bring 5+ years of proven experience in business analysis, specification creation and order management, ideally with a focus on furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) or interior design elements. Experience in retail or hospitality is highly desirable, showcasing your understanding of customer-centric environments.

• Global Perspective: You have a track record of working with international vendors and managing global supply chains, demonstrating your ability to navigate complexities and ensure timely delivery.

• Passion for Design and Quality: You possess a keen eye for detail and a genuine passion for high-quality design. You understand how OFIs contribute to the overall brand experience and can identify pieces that align with On's aesthetic and values.

• Collaborative Spirit: You are a strong communicator and relationship builder, capable of establishing and maintaining collaborative partnerships with vendors and internal teams to ensure timely delivery and adherence to quality standards.

• Proactive Problem-Solver: You possess a proactive and solution-oriented mindset, anticipating challenges and identifying creative solutions to ensure seamless procurement processes.

• Adaptable and Agile: You thrive in a dynamic environment, adapting to changing priorities and maintaining composure under pressure.

• Excellent Communication: You are fluent in English, enabling clear and effective communication with internal and external stakeholders.

What to expect

We want to set everyone up for success, so here’s the lowdown on how we hire. Our process is a two-way street – bringing you into our culture, while helping us learn how you think.

Our full process can last about eight weeks from application to offer, because we care about getting it right. These steps explain how we usually do things.

Before you get started, feel free to consider if you want to work with us. Strange question? Well, we give people a lot of space to navigate their day-to-day and that style isn't for everyone. We want you to be passionate about what you do and be sure this is the right fit. Because when skills and passion combine – it creates that 'Wow' moment.

• Step One

  It starts with you...

  You'll start by submitting your application to a specific role. We try to keep this step as simple as possible. We do get a lot of applications, but we review them all. We ask that you allow around 14 days for us to come back to you with a response. If you are a good fit to the role, someone will follow up with you within that window. If you didn't receive a reply, or were unsuccessful this time around, we encourage you to look for other possible matches at On.

• Step Two

  Interview with a recruiter

  What ignites your spirit? This is where we’ll start getting to know all about you and what makes you tick – and it’s your first chance to get a feel for our culture. Chatting with a member of our talent team, you’ll learn more about On and how we work. We’ll learn about what motivates you and what you could bring to the team.

• Step Three

  Interview with a hiring manager

  Ready to dig into the details? This second interview will be held with your future manager and will focus on the specifics of the job. Together you’ll delve into your unique skills and experiences and how they could be relevant at On. It's also a time to assess how you might feel working side-by-side. Bring any questions you have about the job, the team or anything else you might like to know – this is an open forum.

• Step Four

  The Case Study

  What's your style? This task will help us understand how you think, face a challenge and give insight into your novel ideas. Designed to give everyone their best shot, your case study is based on something you might typically experience on the job. This is your chance to show us what you’ve got. So express yourself. Be you.

• Step Five

  The Experience Day

  Your first taste of the Oniverse. This is a time to meet some of the people you'll be working closest with. In person or virtually, you'll get a feel for the day-to-day at On and the people who make it happen. You'll chat with a few potential teammates - the conversations will be as equally driven by the role and your experience as by our values. We believe how you do things is just as important as what you do.

• Step Six

  The Result

  Are we a good fit? We’ll get together internally to share our feedback and decide if we’re a match. We know that job searching is a big time investment, so it’s not a decision we take lightly. It’s also time for you to reflect on the experience – are we the right place for you? No matter the outcome, we’ll give you meaningful feedback.

Step One:

It starts with you...

You'll start by submitting your application to a specific role.

We try to keep this step as simple as possible. We do get a lot of applications, but we review them all. We ask that you allow around 14 days for us to come back to you with a response. If you are a good fit to the role, someone will follow up with you within that window. If you didn't receive a reply, or were unsuccessful this time around, we encourage you to look for other possible matches at On.